🔗 Share this article France to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure French officials have consented to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the UK. The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to back the plan and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel. French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation. French police have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals. "It is crucial that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters." Now, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life. Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to disable the engines of the boats. The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left office. That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat. Currently French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped. Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances. The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment. Related Updates Why Britain cannot just return migrants to French territory French government backing away from pledge to stop asylum boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security